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Dancing on the Pier brings movers and shakers to Toronto's waterfront

Whether it’s salsa or swing, dancers take to pavement in Harbourfront summer program.

Harbourfront Centre's Dancing on the Pier program is gaining popularity with men and women, young and old. Here a salsa-themed night with a live band.
(Lucas Oleniuk / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

Harbourfront Centre's Dancing on the Pier program is gaining popularity with men and women, young and old. Andrew Gomesfound a well suited salsa partner in Andrea Fabian on a warm Wednesday night on the pier while others wandered through the crowd.
(Lucas Oleniuk / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

Two dozen people sway their bodies back and forth, while vibrant swing music plays in the background.

Dozens of others huddle around the dancing, some waiting for their turn to join in.

This isn’t a ballroom. This is Toronto’s waterfront.

Every week in the summer, dancers move their moves to the waterfront to take in a beautiful view and feel a refreshing breeze.

Summer in Canada is so short. Why waste any of it inside?

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That’s the idea behind Dancing on the Pier, which runs every Thursday night starting at 7 p.m. in the summer months. It’s now in its third year.

At its peak, 500 people have flocked to the pier to bust a move, says Diana Webley, senior artistic associate at the Harbourfront Centre, which runs Dancing on the Pier.

“This is probably the season where people do want to explore the outdoors and the sun and be with their friends and socialize. We don’t have enough time to do that,” Webley said.

Each week is dedicated to a different theme of music.

On this night, a relatively cool one, it’s big band. The Toronto All-Star Big Band is playing and, even though it’s supposed to rain, more and more people are showing up every minute to dance, or just stop and listen to the music.

On another evening, it’s salsa night.

“People hear something’s happening as they’re walking on the boardwalk. Word-of-mouth was a very crucial part of growing Dancing on the Pier, as well as the bands we attracted,” Webley said.

“A lot of condo dwellers come by. People need other people. People meet new friends. People also come in their entourages or their little dance groups.”

Swing music from the 1930s and ’40s might be playing, but there are people of all ages listening and dancing, from kids to senior citizens.

One woman celebrated her 84th birthday here with her friends last year, host Martin Samuels says. Other groups of people in their 70s and 80s plan their trips and transportation to Dancing on the Pier through social media.

Between sets, Samuels takes the stage to get people excited about dancing. He’s been teaching dance for 35 years.

People pay thousands of dollars on vacations to Mexico and Cuba to be on a beach. But he points out that you can be near the water here too for $3, the price of a TTC token.

Some join in while out walking their dogs or strolling with their kids. Others are tourists, drawn to the area by the music.

“When you hear good music, you stop,” Samuels said.

If you don’t know how to dance, that’s no problem. Before the night begins, Samuels gives a quick lesson to anyone who wants it.

“If you don’t know what you’re doing, at least we’ve given you two or three things that you can put in your pocket to use on the floor. If you can walk, you can dance.”

Two people in their 20s float around the concrete with ease. These two weren’t alive when these songs were written, but they know what they’re doing.

Virginia Cardinal and Patrick McElcheran, both 23, are dancers with the University of Toronto Swing Dance Club.

Cardinal heard about Dancing on the Pier via Facebook and had never danced outside before coming. Canadians spend lots of time complaining about the weather each year and Cardinal figures she should make the best of the sun while it’s here.

“I thought, ‘There’s a lake so it’s bound to be cooler than it’s ever been inside for us.’”

For McElcheran, being here sounds better than being in a stuffy room with no air conditioning.

He’s a big fan of old movies and being here allows him to step back in time to an era he loves.

“(Dancing to swing music is) a skill that 99 per cent of the population can’t even think of doing these days,” he said.

“It’s nice to bring that back into the modern world. It’s really great to see that this kind of music can draw a crowd these days.”

Warmer weather in the city means taking it to the streets for Torontonians. This weekly summer series looks at the challenges of moving arts and culture outdoors.

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